Parents need to know that this third installment in The Mummy series has plenty of action violence, which may be a big draw for kids. Only a few of scenes are actually gory -- faces melting off, men about to be decapitated or dismembered -- but most of the battle scenes involve explosions, sword fights, guns, and hand-to-hand combat. Be prepared for the vast hordes of skeleton warriors; they could be quite scary for younger viewers. There's relatively little swearing, although hero Rick does refer to two Chinese soldiers as "Ying" and "Yang." In addition to a few kisses, a woman appears in a long negligee, and two characters appear about to make love (passionate kissing lying down).

Families can talk about whether sequels are generally as good as the originals. Can you think of any that are? Does it matter when, as in this case, one of the main actors doesn't come back? Also, the bulk of the film is set in China: How is Chinese culture represented? How does that depiction relate to the time period in which the movie takes place? Did you learn anything about Chinese culture?

The good stuff

Messages: The emperor is obsessed with world domination. Alex lies to his parents about attending college. Characters betray each other. Rick jokingly calls two Chinese people "Ying" and "Yang." The O'Connells act like their lives are only bearable when they're involved in some dangerous adventure.

What to watch for

Violence: Lots of action violence and implied gore: faces melt, a man is about to be quartered, several shots of near decapitations, limbs are dismembered, bodies are stabbed and shot. Huge Yetis appear as scary CGI panther-like creatures. There are hordes of skeletal warriors (a la Pirates of the Caribbean).

Sex: Evie appears in a nightgown to seduce her husband. Rick makes a joke about "inspiring" his wife in the bedroom. Two or three passionate kisses. A couple seems about to make love, but they're clothed.

Language: Words include "bastard," "ass," and "rot in hell."

Consumerism: Not an issue

Drinking, drugs and smoking: Clubgoers drink champagne and cocktails; a character swigs straight from a liquor bottle; a couple has wine for dinner.

Movies.com, the ultimate source for everything movies, is your destination for new movie trailers, reviews, photos, times, tickets + more! Stay in the know with the latest movie news and cast interviews at Movies.com.